Nimitz

Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week’s report here.

Amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, wrapping a nearly 10-month deployment to the U.S. Southern Command-4th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). During the 296-day deployment, the Iwo Jima ARG launched over 6,000 sorties, flew 1,850 flight hours, and transited more than 130,000 combined nautical miles. The ARG was the first group of expeditionary naval assets deployed to support Operation Southern Spear, which involved enhanced counter narcotics operations, and played a key role in Operation Absolute Resolve to exfiltrate ex-President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela.

Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week’s map here.

The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in full effect and, despite the shaky ceasefire amid ongoing, but uncertain, negotiations, the Navy’s force posture remains unchanged. Enforced by two CSGs and one ARG, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have redirected over 100 commercial vessels, disabled four using force, and allowed more than 25 carrying humanitarian aid to pass through.

The Boxer ARG, still operating under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), doubled back from the Indian Ocean to the Malacca Strait and pulled into Singapore on May 19. The purpose of the port call is unknown, but, as of publication, Planet satellite imagery reviewed by TWZ shows Boxer moored at Sembawang Terminal for the past week. Previous reports indicated the ARG was headed to CENTCOM; however, the group does not appear to be in a hurry.

Also operating in INDOPACOM, forward-deployed USS George Washington departed Yokosuka, Japan, on May 23. While the composition of the CSG is unconfirmed, destroyer USS Shoup and cruiser USS Robert Smalls also got underway, according to public AIS data, and will likely escort the carrier during her upcoming Western Pacific patrol. A George Washington spokesperson recently told us the CSG was “underway conducting routine operations to sharpen our Sailors’ warfighting edge.” The underway coincides with a recent surge of Chinese naval activity in the region.